An explosion occurred at a Magnit supermarket in Vladikavkaz, the building was destroyed, the press service of the North Ossetian Interior Ministry told TASS on Friday.
"A Magnit supermarket exploded on Gagkaev Street, it collapsed like a house of cards... The reason is not known," the press service said.
The press service of the head and government of the region told reporters that as a result of the accident one person, a security guard of the supermarket, was allegedly injured.
Later, the republic's Ministry of Health reported that no people were found under the rubble of the building.
"At the moment, according to the ambulance, there are no victims in the city of Vladikavkaz, there are also no complaints. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, no victims were also found under the rubble," North Ossetian Health Minister Tamerlan Gogichaev said.
TASS was told by emergency services that a supermarket security guard was pulled out of the rubble alive.
They also added that there were no casualties as a result of the explosion among passers-by and tenants of houses adjacent to the supermarket.
"None of the residents, passers-by or drivers, passing by at the time of the explosion, applied for medical help," said the source of the agency.
According to a source in the law enforcement agencies, there was an explosion of a gas-air mixture in the supermarket.
"The preliminary cause is an explosion of a gas-air mixture, which led to the complete collapse of the building. The circumstances are being established now," said the source.
Deputy Chairman of the Government of North Ossetia Irbek Tomayev went to the scene of the accident. The region's Emergency Situations Department said that more than 100 people are working at the scene of the explosion, but their number will be doubled.
"About 120 personnel and 25 units of equipment are working at the site, the airmobile group of the Ministry of Emergency Situations has been put on alert. Another 100 people will arrive soon," the press service of the ministry said with reference to the head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in the region Alexander Khoruzhiy.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in North Ossetia / TASS
Based on materials from TASS